Introduction

People who suffer from panic attacks experience debilitating symptoms, including intense fear and discomfort, pounding or accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and other unpleasant symptoms. Unlike anxiety attacks, which tend to be triggered by a stressor in the environment, panic attacks are unpredictable and arise without warning. Sufferers of panic attacks can end up being limited in their ability to function normally because of an inability to work, attend events, or even perform routine tasks such as shopping or attending appointments.

A service dog trained to detect and warn their hander of an impending panic attack, so that the handler can move to a safe place, take medication, or practice other therapeutic techniques to alleviate the panic attack, can allow a panic attack sufferer to participate in activities they previously were unable to. This improved function can allow them to work, attend functions, and perform daily routine activities with confidence that they have a way of managing their attacks.

Defining Tasks

A panic attack detection dog alerts their owner when they detect signs of an impending panic attack. Dogs trained to perform this task can detect a panic attack several minutes before the person recognizes the signs, allowing sufferers to remove themselves from a situation, go to a safe place, get medication, or practice relaxation techniques. This gives the panic attack sufferer confidence that they can manage their condition. Panic attack detection dogs can also provide assistance by protecting their handlers with their bodies, leading them to a safe place, notifying a loved one, or fetching/carrying medication or a phone.

Service dogs used for detecting panic attacks should be certified as service dogs to gain access to public places where they will accompany their handlers. A dog with an obedient, calm, gentle temperament in diverse situations and environments, and around different people where many distractions are present, will be required.

Getting Started

If you suffer from panic attacks, you will need to determine what symptoms specific of your panic attack you will want your dog to alert to. Having a friend or family member video a panic attack may be helpful to identify cues that your dog can be trained to alert to. Cues such as increased heart rate, breathing, or muscle tremors may be useful signs that your dog can be trained to identify that would indicate a panic attack is imminent. You will also determine what sort of alert your dog will perform to let you know that a panic attack is about to occur Many owners have their dog nudge their hand or leg, or put a paw on their leg, to notify them that a panic attack is imminent.

You should investigate certification for service dogs in your area to allow your dog to accompany you in public to places not normally accessible by pet dogs. Obedience and temperament testing will be part of any certification and should be addressed prior to training.

The Associate with Reward Method

Present the symptom in the presence of your dog. When your dog pays attention to what is happening, reward him with a treat.

Step

3

Practice

Present symptoms and when the dog attends you and the symptoms, reward.

Step

4

Teach alert

Teach your dog an alert such as a nudge and put it on a verbal command.

Step

5

Associate alert

Present the panic attack symptom and the verbal command for the alert. When the dog practices the alert while you are practicing the symptoms, reward. Ignore alerts without symptoms preset.

Step

6

Remove command

Practice the panic attack symptom, without providing the verbal command for the alert. When the dog alerts to symptoms alone, provide a reward.

Step

7

Practice

Practice in a variety of situations and environments with distractions.

Recommend training method?

The Associate with Alert Method

Effective

2 Votes

Step

1

Reward alert

Teach an alert behavior such as a nose nudge. Capture the behavior and reward with treats.

Step

2

Command alert

Now add a verbal cue for the behavior.

Step

3

Vary

Change position and train your dog to perform an alert in several different places and while you are sitting or standing in response to a verbal cue.

Step

4

Choose cue

Identify a panic attack symptom, for example scratching, touching face, or fidgeting, which will be your dog’s cue you are about to have a panic attack.

Step

5

Provide cue

Act out the panic attack symptom and give the verbal cue for an alert.

Step

6

Practice

Reward your dog when he performs the alert and the cue is present. Repeat, practice often for several weeks.

Step

7

Remove command

Now manifest panic attack symptom without providing the verbal cue. When your dog manifests the alert behavior in the presence of symptoms, reward.

Step

8

Vary and practice

Practice in different places and positions, providing the cue and rewarding alert. Ignore false alerts.

Recommend training method?

The Clicker Training Method

Least Recommended

2 Votes

Step

1

Capture alert

Capture an alert behavior such as nudging your hand. Mark with a clicker and provide a treat as a reward.

Step

2

Verbally command

Associate a verbal command such as “nudge”. When the dog nudges, mark with clicker and provide treat.

Step

3

Add cue

Manifest a panic attack symptom. Use the verbal command and mark with clicker when your dog alerts appropriately.

Step

4

Remove verbal command

Manifest the panic attack symptom, but do not give the verbal cue. Continue to mark successful alert behavior with clicker and reward.

Step

5

Remove clicker

Manifest the panic attack symptom and reward alert behavior without the clicker. Ignore alert behavior when panic symptoms are not present.

Step

6

Practice and vary

Practice in lots of different places, positions, and with distractions. Go back to step 3, if necessary, in different distracting situations and proceed through steps until the dog is able to alert to panic attack cues in a variety of circumstances.

Recommend training method?

Success Stories and Training Questions

Training Questions and Answers

Question

Pluto

Cocker Spaniel

6 Years

0 found helpful

Question

0 found helpful

Pluto

Cocker Spaniel

6 Years

I have panic attacks and I was wondering of some places you could get a dog trained for that at?

1 year ago

Pluto's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

151Dog owners recommended

Hello Trinity,
I would look online for a trainer or organization in your area that is certified to train therapy dogs. Look for someone who has experience training dogs for those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, such as retired war veterans.
Where you go to receive training will largely depend on what city you live in. The websites I have listed bellow may help you find someone in your area who can get you started. I would also recommend getting Pluto Canine Good Citizenship Certified, also known as the CGC. A class that prepares you for the CGC certification will teach many of the preliminary skills that will help when you pursue specialized training
www.pawstrainingcenters.com
https://usaservicedogregistration.com
Best of luck training,
Caitlin Crittenden

1 year ago

Add a comment to Pluto's experience

Was this experience helpful?

Question

Ellie Mae

American Bulldog Shepherd

1 Year

0 found helpful

Question

0 found helpful

Ellie Mae

American Bulldog Shepherd

1 Year

Picture is my pup in CGC class. We are taking the test soon. However I am wanting to make her an ESA and to detect when my anxiety peaks or is about to go into an attack. I have frequent anxiety attacks and only a few panic attacks. I want to know how to best train her for these things.

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Ellie Mae's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

151Dog owners recommended

Hello Brandice,
It looks like your question was double submitted. I just wanted to let you know that I answered the first copy, so that you will see my response there. Have a wonderful day.
Best of luck training,
Caitlin Crittenden

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Add a comment to Ellie Mae's experience

Was this experience helpful?

Question

Ellie Mae

American Bulldog Shepherd

1 Year

1 found helpful

Question

1 found helpful

Ellie Mae

American Bulldog Shepherd

1 Year

Picture is my pup in CGC class. We are taking the test soon. However I am wanting to make her an ESA and to detect when my anxiety peaks or is about to go into an attack. I have frequent anxiety attacks and only a few panic attacks. I want to know how to best train her for these things.

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Ellie Mae's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

151Dog owners recommended

Hello Brandice,
Becoming Canine Good Citizen Certified is a great start since that will encompass most of the skills that you will need. To become an emotional support dog you will want to teach your dog to respond to your anxiety cues. You will want the responses to include interrupting your anxious behavior to help you recognize when you are becoming nervous, and comforting you with physical pressure and contact to help you cope with the anxiety.
If you wish for your dog to interrupt you then treat him to bark, whine, nudge, or paw at you whenever you do the things that you tend to do while feeling anxious. Your anxious cues could be: rubbing your arms, wiggling your leg, clenching your fists, tapping your fingers, scratching yourself, holding your head, or holding your chest. Look for what you do whenever you feel anxious and while training reward your dog for alerting you with something like a nudge every time you do something like wiggle your leg.
If you wish for your dog to offer comfort then you can train your dog with treats to offer his presence, touch, or pressure. You can train him to stand over you whenever you are sitting on the floor, so that you can pet and hug him. You can also train your dog to push against you for comfort whenever you are feeling nervous. To do that, give him treats for leaning into you whenever you pretend to do something that you know you would do when you were actually anxious, such are rub your arms. Many nervous expressions look like wiggling your leg, scratching your arm, rubbing your arms, tapping your hands, clenching your fists, or holding your head. Look for what you tend to do when you are feeling anxious and teach your dog to respond to those behavior. You can train your dog to lay underneath your legs whenever you sit somewhere like a bench, so that his presence can be comforting but out of the way when in public. His cue for this might be a direct command to go under you, or you could simply reward him for going under the bench anytime you sit somewhere similar to that, so that he will do it automatically.
If you feel uncertain how to train your dog, you might want to look into hiring a local trainer or participating in another local training class that focuses on teaching the utility tasks involved in Emotional Support Animal training. Look for someone with success training other Service Dogs, ask for recommendations from previous Service Dog clients if you would like. You can also look up videos online demonstrating how to train many of the specific tasks I mentioned as well as lists of other tasks that you can teach that you might find specifically helpful. Congratulations on your CGC evaluation! That shows a lot of hard work on you and Ellie Mae's part.
Best of luck training,
Caitlin Crittenden

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Add a comment to Ellie Mae's experience

Was this experience helpful?

Question

Muggy

Poodle

1 Year

0 found helpful

Question

0 found helpful

Muggy

Poodle

1 Year

I have been wanting a service dog for my frequent panic attacks that would alert me when I am having one. Because of the cost, I would want to get a dog and teach him how to alert me. Since I am training my dog on my own, I was wondering.. what is the best way to register my service dog ( and get proper documentation for air flights, apartment rental, ect ) in the USA? I have seen many sites to register your dog, but had no idea if they were legitimate or not. Thanks!

11 months, 1 week ago

Muggy's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

151Dog owners recommended

Hello Samantha,
According to the American's with Disabilities Act, the ADA law, you do not need to be become certified or registered. What you do need for some airlines and rental properties is:
-Animal ID card (this is simply information about your dog in the form of a card, and many websites will sell them to you.
-A harness that says Service Dog on it. Some places just accepts tags also.
-Your dog's vet records.
-Documentation from your doctor stating:
1. "That you have a mental or emotional disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM IV)
2. That you need the emotional support or psychiatric service animal as an accommodation for air travel and/or for activity at your destination
3. That the individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional or medical doctor, and you are under his or her professional care.
4. The date and type of the mental health professional or medical doctor’s license and the state or other jurisdiction where it was issued"*
-For you to be able to simply tell whoever is asking that the dog is a Service Dog. This is officially also called credible verbal assurance.
In order for your dog to be considered a Service Dog you need:
-For your dog to be trained to perform at least one specific task, specific to your condition. In your case: giving an alert for an oncoming panic attack, providing pressure therapy, leading you to an exit to remove you from stressful situations, or similar alerts specific to your panic attacks.
-For your dog to be trained well enough in general obedience to not be a threat or nuisance to the public. Meaning that your dog is generally well behaved and not pulling on the leash, barking at things, acting aggressively, or causing other harm.
-An assessment from your doctor that you do have one of the psychiatric conditions that qualify under the American's with Disabilities Act, ADA law. Panic Attacks should qualify.
Things I would recommend that you carry with you while in public with your dog, after you train him, to prevent you from being questioned or bothered:
-Cards with ADA law written on them. You can order small laminated cards with ADA law online. If you are questioned about not being certified, you can show them the card with the law that shows that it is not required, for instance.
-A document from your doctor, like the one I mentioned above for airlines. It does not have to specify which disability or emotional need you have, and people are not allowed to ask. The only thing they can ask specific to your condition is what task does your dog perform.
-A vest that says Service Dog for your dog. Some even have places to put your dog's ID cards in. You can also order these online.
-Your dog's vet records, showing overall bill of health and rabies vaccination especially.
Best of luck training,
Caitlin Crittenden
References:
-https://usaservicedogregistration.com/airline-requirements-service-dog-emotional-support-animals

11 months, 1 week ago

Add a comment to Muggy's experience

Was this experience helpful?

Question

Henri

Standard Poodle

5 Months

0 found helpful

Question

0 found helpful

Henri

Standard Poodle

5 Months

Hi! I like using treats with a clicker, and I know ther is a clicker method, but I like the treat method better. Can I use the treat method but with the clicker?

10 months, 3 weeks ago

Henri's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

151Dog owners recommended

Hello Dani,
You absolutely can use a clicker to train this. Since your dog is already used to the clicker it might even speed up the training for you. To use the clicker simply click as soon as your dog does what you want him to, such as pay attention to your cue initially, do the alert signal when you are teaching it, and alert you when you do the physical cue, such as scratching your arm, without your verbal command. Just remember to click right when your dog does the desired behavior, right before you give the treat.
Best of luck training,
Caitlin Crittenden

10 months, 3 weeks ago

Add a comment to Henri's experience

Was this experience helpful?

Training Success Stories

Success

Thor

Dachshund

1 Year

I have been suffering from multiple mental illnesses since I was first diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder when I was 19. I was always anxious but only had panic attacks very rarely. As I got older and started nearing my late 20's my panic attacks had become more frequent at a debilitating pace. I was diagnosed with PTSD and Panic Disorder. My doctors both agreed that cognitive behavioral therapy and a therapy dog would help tremendously along with the medications I take so I could go back to living a normal life which included being able to work or even leave my house. My work place, being a restaurant was hesitant to let me have a therapy dog with me while working my shifts but came to the decision that they would allow it if the dog was of a small breed. Thor, my dachshund was given to me by a breeder and family friend when he was 4 months old. After creating a strong bond with him, I began to train him to recognize my panic attack symptoms by using the alert and reward method (with a clicker). Being a puppy it took a longer period of time than I expected (about 7 months to get him to notice my symptoms at the drop of a pin). Now before I even realize I'm having a panic attack he will sit up on his hind legs and hold up a paw. This tells me to get to a place where I feel safe and can take medication. The training wasnt the easiest as Dachshunds tend to be a bit stubborn but when it clicked, it really clicked. He has saved me from multiple attacks in public, at work and even home many times which has made it so much easier for me to function like a normal adult in my daily life. I really dont know what I would do without Thor, he is really my hero. The only problem with having a smaller breed dog as a service dog/emotional support animal is that people have the tendency to want to pet him, give him treats or even pick him up but I have gotten use to explaining that unfortunately that isnt an option for them personally or he will begin to lose his focus on his job. Just wanted to say if youre training your dog to alert you of your panic or anxiety attacks to just be patient. They will get it eventually because they love you and want to make you happy because when youre upset, theyre upset. You can do it!